Encampment residents defiant as new policy takes effect

As the sun broke through the gap between two high-rise apartments on the north side of the Assiniboine River Monday morning, the large encampment tucked behind the Granite Curling Club lay quiet.

Monday marked the first day of the city’s new encampment policy, which bans such dwellings from more than a dozen areas — including anywhere within 50 metres of a nearby child-care centre, which parts of Mostyn Park are.

According to a recent email obtained by the Free Press from Greg MacPherson, the city’s senior co-ordinator of community development, the Mostyn Park encampment will be among those prioritized for dismantling in the coming weeks.

“I’ve been staying here for five years,” said Peter, who didn’t give his last name. “Why are they going to try to evict me now? And evict me from what? There’s no reason I should have to live like this in my own country.”

Peter, attempting to light a log in a small wood-burning tent heater, said he’s completed three separate housing applications.

“Why are they giving us all this bulls— talk about giving us housing and getting us off the street and sending us a notice that they’re going to evict us? From where? Try and evict me. I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

Terry Johnson, who is about to turn 64 and has lived on the streets for 15 years, said he’s been removed from Main Street Project’s Mainstay residence, a low-barrier transitional housing unit, and another place on Furby for violating visitor policies.

“They said, ‘Hey, we will give you a nice, warm place, no strings attached. Stay as long as you want, and we will help you find a new place,’” Johnson said, leaning on his cane. “They did jack s— about trying to re-integrate us into society.”

Johnson said the policy allowed him to have only one visitor at a time, and they couldn’t be left alone.

“Why are they going to try to evict me now?… There’s no reason I should have to live like this in my own country.”

“That’s it,” he said, adding he’s fed up with trying to obtain housing. “There are too many questions. How can they say we can’t have visitors or that we can’t see people for two weeks? What the f— am I, a kid? I’m 64 years old.”

Both men said they’ve been the focus of frustration from nearby residents.

“There’s a lady that lives up there,” Johnson said, pointing up the embankment to one of the apartment blocks along Balmoral Avenue. “If I spark a match, she calls the fire department. How are we supposed to stay warm? I’d like to ask them that, too. I’m at a loss for words.”

Several fires along the riverbanks near Mostyn Park have required responses from the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service in recent weeks.

Both Johnson and Peter acknowledged the problem, suggesting many incidents are acts of retribution rather than poor fire management.

They both complained about drones that sometimes fly overhead, “buzzing” close to their tents.

“It’s constant,” Johnson said, unsure of who is operating them or why.

“Trying to fly inside our tents, basically,” Peter added.

Transport Canada, which regulates drone use, prohibits flying the aircraft within 50 metres of people for safety and privacy.

Mayor Scott Gillingham, speaking to reporters at an unrelated event, emphasized that enforcement efforts are not meant to be heavy-handed. He said bylaw officers are working closely with outreach providers to support people through the transition.

“We’re trying to get people into housing, that is ultimately the goal… to get people into long-term housing with wraparound supports.”

“We’re trying to get people into housing, that is ultimately the goal — to get people into long-term housing with wraparound supports,” Gillingham said. “But we need to make sure our parks and our playgrounds and those high-need areas are available for the public.”

Coun. Evan Duncan, chair of the property and development committee, said Monday he hopes to see safer communities, children able to play on playgrounds, and people getting housed in the wake of the city’s decision to target encampments in many public spaces.

“And I’m hoping to see things are being enforced, and we’re not being bogged down by excuses or people pulling out measuring tapes, or whatever it may be,” he said. “At the end of the day, these public spaces that we have identified need to be the priority for the community first and foremost.”

One man, who is living within the 30-metre threshold near the Maryland Bridge, said Monday he’s not going anywhere.

“What are they going to do?” said the man, who asked not to be named. “There’s nowhere to go. There’s no housing.”

The man said he was arrested recently after he jerry-rigged a power line from under the bridge to power his portable heater.

The city has only two bylaw officers allocated for encampment enforcement, both trained to assess encampments and classify them as high, medium, or low risk. No additional funding has been set aside for enforcement. Garbage removal will be funded by $200,000 from the existing public works budget.

“There’s nowhere to go. There’s no housing.”

Given the limited resources and the difficulty of securing adequate housing, Duncan said the process will likely move slowly.

He added that enforcement efforts will need to be evaluated for effectiveness before any new funding is considered.

“Potentially, there will be a lot of issues where the police service is called upon to motivate these people to move, or otherwise be moved,” Duncan said. “Ultimately, what we want to see here is people being housed. If people are being housed, we don’t need more resources for it.”

Duncan said he wasn’t aware of any enforcement activity on Monday. With colder weather approaching, he expects some people will move on their own. He also said he doesn’t support designated encampment areas, noting the challenges of those models elsewhere.

Vancouver shut down its designated encampment last year. In Halifax, the city operates three such sites as it contends with rising homelessness.

The Free Press requested comment from MacPherson but he was not made available on Monday. Instead, the city pointed toward a release it issued in the afternoon, and said no further comment would be made.

In the release, Coun. Vivian Santos, chair of the city’s committee on community services said the new protocol is a co-ordinated effort between city departments and outreach partners to promote “safety and compassion” in responding to encampments.

“While our first priority is always to connect individuals with outreach teams and safer housing options, we also have an obligation to protect the health, safety, and dignity of all residents who use our parks, playgrounds, and community spaces,” Santos said. “This balanced approach ensures people can transition into safer environments while keeping these public areas open and secure for families and residents.”

The city is partnering with outreach providers to notify encampment residents about upcoming enforcement and to help them relocate from public property into shelters.

Implementation of the plan will be phased in over the coming weeks, the city noted.

— with files from Joyanne Pursaga

scott.billeck@freepress.mb.ca

Scott Billeck
Reporter

Scott Billeck is a general assignment reporter for the Free Press. A Creative Communications graduate from Red River College, Scott has more than a decade’s worth of experience covering hockey, football and global pandemics. He joined the Free Press in 2024.  Read more about Scott.

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